בס“ד Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Tazria-Metzora 6 Iyyar 5772/April 28, 2012 / 21 Omer Vol.3 Num. 28

To sponsor an issue of Toronto Torah, please contact [email protected] or 416-783-6960 Yearning for Tzaraat Ezra Goldschmiedt Tzaraat, often misleadingly translated as to address not only lashon hara, but a driven to consult the spiritual leaders of leprosy, is spiritual rather than range of sins committed in the social their time for a “psak” concerning a physical. Despite its physical sphere (although, to be sure, lashon hara matter that is ostensibly spiritual, all manifestation, tzaraat demonstrates seems to receive special treatment). the while treating their fellow man that something is wrong with an Wrongdoings which are beyond the without a modicum of respect. One individual on the level of his morals and purview of an earthly court, or, at the whose sins are social in nature is thought processes. (See Rabbi Samson very least, are crimes which man can all exactly the type of individual who can Raphael Hirsch's commentary, end of too easily get away with, are the subject delude himself into thinking that he Parshat Tazria.) Through Miriam's of this unique form of judgement. With nevertheless has a close relationship contraction of this disease as a these parameters in mind, the with G-d; he is therefore the one most consequence of her slander of Moshe phenomenon of tzaraat teaches us a in need of the wake-up call that tzaraat (see Bamidbar 12), as well as our charge lesson central to the Torah's instruction: affords. to remember this episode while being In no uncertain terms, G-d wants us to “careful of the tzaraat disease” (Devarim know his hatred of these behaviours. He While the thought of suffering such a 24:8-9), we are shown that tzaraat is is even willing to go beyond the natural condition is frightening, one can almost especially a message for the speaker of order to do so. (See Ramban to 13:47.) appreciate living in a world where this lashon hara, evil talk. When our actions are not a direct affront phenomenon exists. It is indeed a sad to G-d, and particularly when we seem to state of affairs that in today's world, Less known however, is that a number face no consequences from our fellow various individuals, either because of of other behaviours are also listed man, it is all too easy to think that we their position, or because of the nature among the causes for tzaraat. Vayikra are still on good terms with our Creator. of their wrongdoings, can torment the Rabbah (Metzora 16:1) tells us that a Whether through direct experience or society they live in without few verses from Mishlei (6:16-19) through our learning of its various laws, consequence. A world in which G-d provide us with the comprehensive list: tzaraat is G-d's way of telling us that more openly declares the individuals He “Hashem hates these six, and even the such an idea is nothing but a delusion. holds in contempt would be, in many seventh is repellent to Him: haughty ways, a welcome sight. Perhaps jarring eyes, a lying tongue, hands that spill This concept can be gleaned from the personal messages from G-d would innocent blood, a heart plotting metzora's diagnosis itself. A metzora's provide impetus for the changes that we violence, feet that are quick to run to status is uniquely effected by the are often reluctant to initiate. evil, a false witness spreading lies, and declaration of such by a kohen (and not one who incites conflict between by the development of the condition Noting that tzaraat is not prevalent in brothers.” Mishlei's words, as alone). The kohen, the representative of today's world, Rabbi Chaim Yosef David interpreted by Chazal, are particularly G-d, is the one who tells the metzora that Azulai suggests (in his work Nachal telling. with his current lifestyle, he has no place Kedumim) that this is due to the in the community. Indeed, the structure absence of the Beit HaMikdash. As the Applying tzaraat to this group teaches of this law is tailor-made for those under disease's corrective process (which us that at its core, the disease is meant the delusion mentioned above: Those includes korbanot, with their own symbolic teachings) cannot be Parshah Questions R’ Meir Lipschitz accomplished in its entirety, G-d has removed this method of communicating His displeasure from us. Nowadays, our Answers to some of the questions appear on the back page moral failings can go unnoticed; even  Why did Hashem command the laws of tzara’at to both Moshe and Aharon? after understanding how we've strayed, (Ramban, Ibn Ezra, and Rabbi S.R. Hirsch to Vayikra 13:1) we require a less direct, and likely less

 Why did the laws of tzara’at on a house only apply once the Jews entered the effective, method of repair. Land of ? (Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, Netziv, Daat Mikra, R’ S.R. Hirsch, to Vayikra 14:34) While we often fail to see the value of what the geulah could mean to us, the  When describing the affliction which appears on his home, why must a person tzaraat process – G-d's way of use the term k’nega, “like an affliction” and not nega, “an affliction”? (Rashi, Malbim, Mizrachi, Maharal, Torah Temimah, and Shaarei Aharon to Vayikra communicating His thoughts 14:35, and Tosafot Yom Tov to Mishnah Negaim 12:5) concerning our behaviour – is perhaps one element that we can yearn for.  For children: What is the significance of each of the items a metzora brings during his purification process? (Rashi to Vayikra 14:4) [email protected] [email protected] Discrepancies in the Kriat haTorah Schedule Hitoriri: R’ Dovid Zirkind Jewish Spirituality

Every so often, when the last day of a Treasures in the Wall before. In both cases, the visitor Yom Tov falls out on Shabbat in is permitted to receive aliyot along with R’ Baruch Weintraub Diaspora, this results in a discrepancy the congregation. in Torah reading for some weeks to בפרשת מצורע, בפתיחה לנגעי בתים, נאמר: follow. This year, for example, the last " כי תבאו אל ארץ כנען אשר אני נתן לכם Israelis who spend Yom Tov abroad, as לאחזה ונתתי נגע צרעת בבית ארץ day of Pesach in Israel was a Friday, well as visitors to Israel who observed אחזתכם" )ויקרא יד,לד( while Yom Tov was observed through the eighth day of Pesach with the Yom Shabbat outside of Israel. Tov reading, find themselves trailing the הגמרא בהוריות, דף י ע"א, דורשת: Consequently, Parshat Shemini was public readings in Israel. We usually " תניא , ר ' יהודה אומר , בשורה היא להם read a week later in the Diaspora. Rabbi assume that Torah reading is a שנגעים באים עליהם" Betzalel Stern discusses a number of communal obligation, so that an interesting scenarios which result from individual who is unable to attend on a כלומר , לשון הפסוק מרמזת על כך שנגעי this discrepancy in the Torah reading. given Shabbat is not obligated to arrange (Teshuvot B’tzel Hachochma #2-9) הבתים הינם הבטחה , ולאו דווקא עונש . רש " י .a proper Torah reading for himself אצלנו מסביר, שנגעי הבתים הינם בשורה , כיוון According to Rabbi Stern, Diaspora Nevertheless, in our situation, some שכך נמצאו מטמוני זהב שהטמינו האמוריים. Jews visiting Israel for Pesach should authorities encourage those who are able אלא שהסברו של רש " י עדיין טעון ביאור נוסף : ideally look for a minyan which to arrange an additional reading for the מדוע דווקא דרך זו נבחרה לגילוי המטמוניות? observes the eighth day of the Yom Tov. missed parshah to do so. Rabbi Avraham If such a minyan is not available, Rabbi Dovid Horovitz concludes that the best נראה , כי עניין זה יתבאר על פי שני מדרשים Stern argues that the visitors are option is to extend the Shabbat Minchah נוספים. בגמרא ביומא יא ע"ב נאמר: obligated nonetheless in hearing the reading to include the entire Parshat " מי שמייחד ביתו לו , שאינו רוצה להשאיל regular Shabbat reading of Parshat Shemini in addition to the first aliyah of כליו , ואומר שאין לו , הקדוש ברוך הוא Shemini with the community in Israel. Parshat Tazria [Teshuvot Kinyan Torah מפרסמו, כשמפנה את ביתו ]מפני נגעי בתים[" .[Whenever a Yom Tov overlaps with L’halacha #12 באופן דומה , הגמרא בערכין טז ע " א מביאה , כי Shabbat, says Rabbi Stern, we adapt נגעי בתים באים בשל ' צרות עין ' . ייתכן , כי the five aliyot of Yom Tov to conform to With each week’s Torah reading comes מדרשים אלו , המתארים את נגעי הבתים the seven aliyot of Shabbat. This is an obligation to study the weekly כעונש, ומדרשו של רבי יהודה , המתאר את נגעי – because our obligation of hearing seven parshah with some form of translation הבתים כבשורה, אינם בהכרח סותרים זה לזה. aliyot every Shabbat exists irrespective sh'nayim mikra v’echad targum. The of a coinciding Yom Tov. Therefore, if Gemara suggests that one who is diligent הכניסה לארץ ישראל , וההתיישבות בה , על אף one cannot fulfill both obligations in observing this mitzvah will merit in היותן נקודת הפתיחה למימוש התורה במלואה , Shabbat and Yom Tov) through the long life (Berachot 8a). Rabbi Stern notes) והקמת ' ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש ', צופנות Yom Tov reading, it is best to fulfill the that this obligation may include two בחובן סכנה משמעותית . המעבר ממגורים regular Shabbat obligation of seven parshiyot for someone who intends to באהלים במדבר , ' מצב חירום ', לשלוה ובטחון .aliyot along with those not observing hear both on the same Shabbat של האנשים הנסגרים מאחורי קירות אבן , עלול the Yom Tov. Conversely, one who However, one who heard the parshah in להביא גם להסתגרות של המשפחות בתוך heard Parshat Shemini in Israel and Israel prior to going abroad is not עצמן , ולאבדן המבנה החברתי . מצב זה , spends the next Shabbat outside of obligated to repeat his study. Sh'nayim המתואר בגמרא ביומא כחוסר הסכמה להשאיל Israel (where Shemini is being read mikra only requires that a person כלים מזה לזה , נובע למעשה מצרות עין , כפי .again), is likewise obligated in hearing complete the Torah once per year שמצויין בגמרא בערכין . צרות עין משמעה אי the Torah reading for Shabbat, despite רצון לראות את התמונה הרחבה , בה אתה having heard that same parshah the [email protected] ושכנך הינכם חלק ממערכת אחת , מרקמה חברתית גדולה יותר. 613 Mitzvot: #149-150 פעמים רבות , צרות העין הופכת למעין מעגל קסמים – האדם חושש להזדהות עם שכניו , פן The Well-Groomed Kohen יאבד את זהותו העצמית . באופן זה , נבנית R’ Mordechai Torczyner ייחודיותו דווקא על אי שיתוף פעולה עם החברה , וממילא התנגדותו לשיתוף פעולה זה The male kohanim, descendants of Mitzvah 150 adds that kohanim are not to רק הולכת וגוברת. .Moshe’s brother Aharon, were the wear torn clothing in the Beit haMikdash people who carried out the daily פתרונה של התורה לבעיה זו , המוכרת לכל מי service in the Beit haMikdash. We Torn clothes and long hair are traditional שגר פעם בעיר הגדולה , הינו ניתוץ הקירות . have already learned that the signs of mourning, and the Beit המטמוניות יתגלו דווקא על ידי ההשתתפות kohanim wear a special uniform; they haMikdash is not to be associated with בחברה . הזהות העצמית והייחודית תמצא also observe a code of grooming. mourning. However, according to most דווקא בעזרה לזולת , בהפתחות כלפי האחר , authorities these prohibitions apply even ובגילוי כי לכל אחד מאיתנו יש מה לתת , .Mitzvah 149 requires kohanim to when no thought of mourning is involved ולקבל , מחברו . תרומה ייחודית וגם קבלה keep their hair to a specific length, [See Minchat Chinuch 150:4 for more ייחודית, אשר אף אחד אחר לא יוכל לתת. [.not allowing it to grow for more than about this thirty days. According to the על כן , נגעי הבתים , העיפוש הנובע מהסגירות Rambam, most kohanim may grow [email protected] ומצרות העין , נפתרים על ידי שבירת הקירות , their hair so long as they do not enter היציאה מן הבית , וגילוי המטמוניות שהקירות the Beit haMikdash in that state, but החביאו. the kohen gadol may never keep long hair. [email protected]

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com Biography: Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Yair Manas Ha’Aretz

הר הרצל Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Porush was the Har Herzl Torah in Translation founder of the Shaarei Chesed R’ Mordechai Torczyner neighbourhood of ; his son, May a Doctor Rabbi Chaim Yehudah Leib Auerbach, Treat Her Parent? founded and served as Rosh of Har Herzl (Mount Herzl) is a the Shaar haShomayim Yeshiva, mountain in the Jerusalem Forest Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach dedicated to study of Kabbalah. Rabbi in the western part of Jerusalem, between the neighbourhoods of Ein Minchat Shlomo 1:32 Chaim Leib's son, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach – commonly known as just Kerem, Beit haKerem, Bayit v'Gan Translated by Yair Manas "Rav Shlomo Zalman" – was the first and Yefeh Nof. It rises more than child born in Shaarei Chesed, in 1910. 800 metres above sea level, and has [Translator’s note: Shemot 21:15 says that a been home to the graves of the Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was child who strikes a parent is liable. modern State of Israel's leaders known for his diligent Torah study. Mishnah Sanhedrin 11:1 elaborates that since August 17, 1949, when When he was about eleven years old, the the child must draw blood to be liable.] Theodor Herzl's remains were re- first automobile arrived in his interred there from Vienna. This There is another great support to permit neighbourhood. While all of the other fulfilled Herzl's dying wish, as [treating one’s parent] in the Minchat schoolchildren ran out of the classroom recorded in his will, "I wish to be Chinuch's statement (Mitzvah 48): "The to see the car, Rav Shlomo Zalman buried in a metal coffin next to my gemara asks, 'May a child let blood for a remained in his seat, absorbed in his father, and to remain there until the parent?' But that is when the blood-letting studies. (And From Jerusalem, His Word Jewish people will transfer my is against the parent’s will. So too, the by Rabbi Chanoch Teller, pg. 69) remains to Eretz Israel. The coffins talmudic sages who did not let their Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was of my father, my sister Pauline, and children remove a splinter because perhaps also known for his refined character. of my close relatives who will have the child would make a wound, were Even in his older years he would rise to died until then will also be concerned that it would be against the provide women with a seat on a bus, transferred there." parent's will. However, if the parent forgives and he was careful to respect the dignity his honour and commands the child to do of all human beings. In 1954, excavations revealed a so, then the child is not liable, and does not Jewish burial cave from the time of transgress this prohibition at all. So too, in While in Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Zalman the second Beit haMikdash on the wounding one’s friend." became a top student of Rav Issur grounds of the mountain; today, Zalman Meltzer, and he later learned in [In a footnote, Rabbi Auerbach adds: The that burial cave is flanked by a the of Rabbi . At Minchat Chinuch writes, "Even though I did memorial for soldiers whose burial the age of 24, Rav Shlomo Zalman not find this explicitly written, nonetheless sites are unknown. The mountain published a sefer discussing halachic logic indicates this, and in my humble also houses the graves of those who issues in the use of electricity. This text opinion this is clear." Nevertheless, it has fought to establish the Jewish State, received approbation from Rav Chaim been pointed out to me that the She’iltot leaders of the military, the police Ozer Grodzinski, a leading sage of the (end of 60) writes regarding the principle of force and the Knesset. The time. Rav Shlomo Zalman is also well- "A father who waives his honour, his mountain also hosts a memorial for known for his rulings on medical honour is waived" that this is for honour, victims of terror attacks, and for halacha, and for his rulings on the laws but not for hitting and cursing. Haameik those who perished on their way to of Shabbat. These rulings were She’eilah [R’ Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin] Israel. Yad vaShem is nearby, as is published by Rabbi brings support for this, and then adds, Israel's National Military Cemetery. in Shemirat Shabbat K’Hilchatah, and by "Really, we do not need these proofs other National ceremonies Rabbi Dr. Abraham S. Abraham in than to demonstrate that forgiving one's commemorating Yom haZikaron, Nishmat Avraham. honour does not permit disgrace. For Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen cursing or hitting, it is obvious [that the Many of Rav Shlomo Zalman’s sons soldiers and victims of terror, are father cannot waive it]; even one who curses serve as in Israel, and his held at Har Herzl. himself violates a prohibition." Still, it is daughter Rachel is married to Rabbi plausible that if the father wanted the blood Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg, a leading Two of Israel's best-known Prime -letting or splinter removal, and this was his halachic authority in Israel. It is Ministers chose other burial places will, then it would not be within the biblical estimated that 300,000 people attended for themselves: David Ben Gurion is category of striking one's parent.] Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's funeral buried near his home in Sde Boker, in 1995; aish.com labels it "the largest and Menachem Begin asked to be In my humble opinion, there is great proof funeral in Israel since mishnaic times." buried next to his wife on Har for the words of the Minchat Chinuch, since [email protected] haZeitim (Mount of Olives). the command to not hit one’s parents is derived from the same verse as the wounds his parents medically, even An interactive map of Har Herzl is command to not hit anyone, and regarding unnecessarily, and the child receives available at http://bit.ly/IRU8yM. hitting another person with that person’s permission even for mistakes. We need permission, the law is that if the friend says not worry about a mistake… [email protected] "Hit me on the condition that you will be exempt" then the hitter is exempt. Although all other halachic authorities (Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 421:12) did not distinguish between wounding a Similarly, the Rambam writes that hitting a parent with and without permission, the friend is liable only when it is "in the form of distinction is logical, and we can attach disgrace." (Hilchot Chovel U’Mazik 5:1) If so, this rationale [to other rationales] to then the same rule should apply when one allow [a child to treat his parent].

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3 Parshah Answers Russell Levy

Why did Hashem command the laws affliction, even a great Torah scholar is warning us from speaking of evil of tzara’at to both Moshe and may only relate that he spotted which has not yet occurred, and may Aharon? something which is “like an affliction”, not occur. Since it is possible that the Both the Ramban and the Ibn Ezra as it is indeterminate until the Kohen Kohen will rule that this is not an write that the command should have confirms it. affliction, it is improper to wish evil been given only to Moshe, like all other In his supercommentary on Rashi, the upon oneself by describing it as one. commandments. Nevertheless, since all third Hakham Bakshi, or Grand Rabbi, Similar to R’ Mizrachi, R’ Baruch of the laws of tzara’at require the of the Ottoman Empire, R’ Eliyahu Epstein, nephew of the Netziv and son involvement of the kohanim, Aharon Mizrachi, questions Rashi’s explanation of the author of the Aruch also received the instructions. as follows: Since a non-Kohen cannot haShulchan, explicates in his Torah R’ Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, render a decision regarding the Temimah commentary that it is not founder of the neo-Orthodox movement affliction, it is immaterial whether he proper to rule when the final ruling is in Germany, writes that having both uses language of certainty (“an in the hands of another. Moshe and Aharon instructed together affliction”) or that of doubt (“like an indicates a special importance to the affliction”). Rather, he relates in the For children: What is the laws being related. It is meant to show name of his teachers, the use of the significance of each of the items a that the theoretical understanding and language of doubt is to impart the metzora brings during his their practical establishment, requirement of each individual to be purification process? represented by Moshe, must also be humble, and not to declare an opinion Since tzara’at is a punishment for accompanied by the training and on a matter for which his opinion is lashon hara (harmful speech), two education of all of the individuals inconsequential. birds are brought, since they involved for such understanding and The Maharal of Prague, in his Gur incessantly chirp. practice. Aryeh supercommentary on Rashi, Wood from a cedar tree is brought explains that it would be a lie to since lashon hara is also a punishment When describing the affliction which emphatically state that he saw “an for haughtiness, symbolized by the tall appears on his home, why must a affliction”: the spot beheld is not an cedar. person use the term k’nega, “like an affliction until rendered so by the Like the worm-based dye and the affliction” and not nega, “an Kohen. hyssop that must be brought, the affliction”? According to R’ Yom Tov Lipmann afflicted must humble himself. Rashi explains that since only the Heller, in his Tosafot Yom Tov Kohen may validate the claim of the commentary on the Mishnah, the Torah [email protected]

Schedule for April 28 - May 4 / 6 - 12 Iyyar Shabbat April 28 7:45 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Rav Kook on the Parshah, Or Chaim not this week 10:20 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Parshah, Clanton Park Monday, April 30 1 hour before minchah Yair Manas: Gemara Sukkah, 8:30 PM Hillel Horovitz, In-Depth Siddur, Clanton Park, men Mizrachi Bayit 45 minutes before minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Daf Tuesday, May 1 Yomi: Meilah 13, BAYT 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Zecharyah: Assault on After minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Building a House Jerusalem, Mekorot, Shaarei Shomayim on Shabbat: Gemara Avodah Zarah, BAYT 7:15 PM R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt, Ramban, BAYT 8:00 PM Hillel Horovitz, The Early Prophets, Bnai Torah Sunday, April 29 8:15 PM Yair Manas: Minchat Chinuch, Clanton Park 8:45 AM R’ Yirmiyah Milevsky, Israel at 64; Mrs. Michal Horovitz, Why Not Uganda?, Bnai Wednesday, May 2 Torah, breakfast, token fee 10:00 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Dramas of Jewish History: 8:45 AM AM R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt, The Medinah and Enlightenment, BEBY, with Melton the Seder, Ayin l’Tzion, breakfast, free 8:00 PM R’ Dovid Zirkind, Gemara Beitzah, 2nd Perek, Shaarei 8:45 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Complete Shomayim Redemption?, Kehilat Shaarei Torah, 8:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Living Midrash, BAYT, women breakfast, free 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Hilchot Melachim, Shomrai 9:00 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, The Six Day War and Shabbos, men Pesach Sheni, Mizrachi Bayit, breakfast, free 9:15 AM Hillel Horovitz, Redemption vs. Independence Thursday, May 3 (Hebrew), Zichron Yisroel, breakfast, free 8:00 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, X-Files of the 1 of 4, 11:00 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Hilchot Melachim, Or MNJCC Chaim, collegiates 6:00 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Halachic issues in Israel, Friday, May 4 Hebrew, 4 Tillingham Keep, mixed 8:00 AM R’ Dovid Zirkind, Friday Parshah Preview, Village Shul 40 minutes before minchah R’ Baruch Weintraub, Halachic issues in Israel, Hebrew, Clanton Park, men

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